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Center for Life Ethics
Schaumburg-Lippe-Straße 7
D-53113 Bonn

 

+49 228 73 66100

 

lifeethics@uni-bonn.de

Research Area Ecologization

Dr.
Jan Mehlich

Biography

Jan Mehlich studied chemistry (Diplom and PhD) and applied ethics (Master) at the Westfälische Wilhelms University Münster between 2002 and 2012. Equipped with competences in both nanosciences and ethical discourse, he coordinated an accompanying research project on ethical and social implications of nanomedicine at the Europäischen Akademie Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler GmbH, a technology assessment institution. With a postdoctoral fellowship awarded by the Alexander-von-Humboldt foundation, at National Chung Hsing University and Tunghai University (both Taichung, Taiwan) he investigated the treatment of ethical, social, and environmental issues in the context of Taiwan’s National Nanotechnology Initiative. After that, he worked as research fellow and assistant professor at the International School of Technology and Management, Feng Chia University, Taiwan. Here, his academic focus was on the role of various actors in normative innovation discourses. Among his teaching activities are courses on science and technology ethics, innovation management, critical thinking, and discourse performance. He has been working at the Center for Life Ethics since October 2021 and his work includes the ELSI-SAT Health & Care project.

Contact

jan.mehlich@uni-bonn.de
+49 228 73 66212

Location

Center for Life Ethics

Schaumburg-Lippe-Straße 7

53113 Bonn

Vita

Academic Backround

2012

Master of Applied Ethics, WWU Münster

 

2010 - 2012

Master program in Applied Ethics, WWU Münster

 

2011

PhD (Dr. rer. nat.), Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, WWU Münster

 

2007-2011

PhD program, WWU Münster, Organic Chemistry Institute, work group of Prof. Bart Jan Ravoo

 

2007

Diplom degree in Chemistry, WWU Münster

 

2002 - 2007

Diplom program Chemistry, WWU Münster

Professional Career

since 2021

Scientific staff at the Center for Life Ethics, TRA4, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

 

2019-2020

Assistant professor at the International School of Technology and Management, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan

 

2018-2019

Research staff at the International School of Technology and Management, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan

 

2017-2018

Adjunct assistant professor at the Department of Philosophy, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan 

 

2015 - 2017

Postdoctoral fellow at National Chung Hsing University and Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan; scholarship from Alexander-von-Humboldt foundation

 

2011 - 2013

Scientific staff at the Europäische Akademie Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler GmbH

Publications

Publications

  • Mehlich J, Woopen C. From applied ethics to innovation practice: an ethics-by-design approach for constructive consideration of ELSI in technological design decisions. J Respons Innov. 2025 Feb;12(1). doi: 10.1080/23299460.2025.2459451.
  • Mehlich J. Jenseits von Bereichsethiken: Die Navigation epistemischer Regime der angewandten Ethik im ELSI-SAT H&C-Projekt. In: Grimm P, Zöllner O, editors. Ethik der Digitalisierung in Gesundheitswesen und Pflege: Analysen und ein Tool zur integrierten Forschung. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag; 2025. p. 127-139.
  • Mehlich J, Børsen T, Kim D. Ethics in chemical engineering. In: Chance S, Børsen T, Martin DA, Tormey R, Lennerfors TT, Bombaerts G, editors. The Routledge International Handbook of Engineering Ethics Education. London: Routledge; 2025. p. 304-320
  • Mehlich J. Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education. Chem Teach Int. 2024 Nov;6(4):341-8. doi: 10.1515/cti-2024-0022.
  • Mehlich J. Enabling a smooth transition: responsible chemistry competencies for the European Green Deal. Chimia (Aarau). 2024 Sep 25;78(9):606-9. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2024.606. PMID: 39323194.
  • J. Mehlich, "Technology assessment in the STEM curriculum: Teaching responsible research and innovation skills to future innovators", TA Theory and Practice 2022, 31(1), 22-27
  • J. Mehlich, Good Chemistry. Methodological, Ethical, and Social Dimensions, Royal Society of Chemistry Publ.: London, UK, 2021, ISBN: 978-1-78801-743-5.
  • J. Mehlich, "Between Inter-culturality and Culture-Specificity - Constructive Realism applied to Global Ethics", in: F. Wallner, F. Lan, J. Brousek (eds.), Constructive Realism in Chinese Medicine (Libri Nigri Vol.81), Verlag Traugott Bautz GmbH: Nordhausen, 2020, pp.289-312.
  • J. Mehlich, M.M. Tseng, "Navigating in the Vastness – Making Sense of the Dynamics of Consumer Choices", in: A. Fritzsche, J.M. Jonas, A. Roth, K.M. Möslein (eds.), Innovating in the Open Lab. The new potential for interactive value creation across organizational boundaries, De Gruyter, Oldenbourg, 2020.
  • K.-H. Tang, C.-F. Ho, J. Mehlich, S.-T. Chen, "Assessment of Handover Prediction Models in Estimation of Cycle Times for Manual Assembly Tasks in a Human–Robot Collaborative Environment", Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(2), 556.
  • J. Mehlich, "Chemistry and Dual Use: From Scientific Integrity to Social Responsibility", Helv. Chim. Acta 2018, 101, e1800098.
  • J. Mehlich, F. Moser, B. Van Tiggelen, L. Campanella, H. Hopf, "On the Ethical and Social Dimensions of Chemistry: Reflections, Considerations, and Clarifications", Chem. Eur. J. 2017, 23(6), 1210-1218.
  • J. Mehlich, "Is, Ought, Should - The Role of Scientists in the Discourse on Ethical and Social Implications of Science and Technology", Palgrave Communications 2017, 3, 17006.
  • J. Mehlich, H. Frank, "Chemische Ethik, brauchen wir die?", Nachrichten aus der Chemie 2015, 63(10), 971.
  • J. Mehlich, F. Thiele, "Nanomedicine: visions, risk, potential", Eur. J. Nanomed. 2014, 6, 1
  • H. Frank, L. Campanella, F. Dondi, J. Mehlich, E. Leitner, G. Rossi, K. N. Ioset, G. Bringmann, "Ethics, Chemistry, and Education for Sustainability", Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed. 2011, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201007599

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